Tour Talk - a Cycling Terms Guide

What's a maillot and what are you doing if you're in a break-away? We get to the bottom of some of the most-used words during 2014 Tour de France time!

Aerobic (Aero)

When the heart and lungs work from physical exertion with steady access to oxygen – designed to improve the efficiency of the body’s cardiovascular system to carry and absorb and transport oxygen.

Aerodynamic

You will hear this term used during the Tour de France’s penultimate stage – the Individual Time Trial (see ITT below). This refers to the cyclist assuming a far more aggressive position on a bike designed specifically for time trials. E.g. – riding a TT bike supposedly makes the cyclist ‘more aero’.

Anaerobic

Apex

The highest point of an ascent. Come the mountain stages, these apexes will make the hairs on our arms stand up – and we’re watching from the TV!

Attack

We’re looking forward to seeing a lot of these during the Tour! When a cyclist launches an attack, they essentially make a concerted move to assume the lead and/ or to gain more distance between themselves and their competitors.

Bidon

Water bottle.

Blow up

You don’t want this to happen. To run out of energy – to hit a wall and no longer be able to perform.

Bonk

Don't get the wrong impression! Too little fuel (either fluid and/or carbohydrates) causing the cyclist to lose all power to exert and all energy.

Break-away

One or more cyclists who surge ahead of the bunch or peloton.

Bunch

A group of riders. Although this can be any size, we’d be inclined to say a bunch is four or more riders riding together.

Cadence

The number of revolutions the pedals make per minute. So climbing a hill for example will see a much slower cadence than rocketing down a sprint straight.

Chapeau

Direct translation from French means ‘hat’ but it is a term used to express respect at someone else’s achievement or win.

Chasers

Riders who for whatever reason were not part of a break-away group and are now trying to catch up with them.

Coming off

To be avoided at all costs! In short – falling off the bike.

Directeur Sportif

The team boss (not a rider).

DNS/ DNF

Again – something to avoid. Did not start and did not finish.

Domestique

A worker rider – someone whose job is to support and serve the lead rider.

Drafting

When a cyclist rides directly behind another (see ‘sitting on wheel’) to benefit from the leader blocking the wind (which therefore makes it easier for all cyclists following).

Drops

When a cyclist has their hands on the bottom part of the curved handlebar, they are effectively riding on their drops.
(to get) dropped
When a cyclist cannot keep up with another cyclist or a bunch, they are effectively dropped.

Etape

The French word for a stage (see below).

Flamme Rouge

A big red banner marking the final kilometre of a race.

Full tuck

When a cyclist is super crouched down on their bike and descending. Many cyclists will crouch so far down that their bum is past and slightly lower than the saddle.

GC

General Classification stands for the overall leader in a race. In short – the most coveted position to be in!

Hors Categorie

Basically any climb that is too out of this world to categorise – a tough day in the office!

ITT (Individual Time Trial)

Cyclists race one at a time with the aim of covering a set distance in the fastest time possible. Normally in the Tour cyclists ride as a peloton, or in break-away bunches. Time trials make it impossible to rely on others to assist your performance – it is a match between the cyclist and the clock.

KOM

King of the Mountain – the fastest climber.

Lactose threshold

The point at which exercise becomes so intense that lactic acid begins to accumulate in the blood stream.

Lead-out

Oh this is when all the fun and games start! A lead out cyclist rides flat out for the benefit of their team leader, or other team mate, who is riding behind and thus benefiting from the slipstream. At a certain point, the lead out moves to the side, allowing the follower to advance at an even greater speed and hopefully win the race.

Maillot

The French word for jersey. Maillot jaune is yellow jersey, maillot vert is green jersey, maillot à pois is the polka dot jersey and maillot blanc is the white jersey.

Minute man

Occurs in a time trial environment and refers to the cyclist in front (normally time trials start at one minute intervals).

Off the back

Cyclists who are riding towards, in or near the back of the bunch or peloton.

Palmarès

Accomplishments – basically all those podium places that go into the pool room.